Exeter University 3, Sidmouth Men’s 1st XI 2

On the back of a disappointing defeat the previous week versus Bridgwater, Sidmouth made the short trip to Exeter University to take on a side that have been showing excellent form in recent weeks, writes Ian Brown.

Hit by setbacks of losing Charles Plowden to a back injury and Scott Rowson being struck down with a nasty bug, but soldiering on to play, the visitors faced a daunting task.

Charlie Please was off on holiday and Chris Lewis remains sidelined through injury, so the continuity that captain Ian Brown has been trying to promote was wiped out with yet another changed formation enforced. Andrew Mapson was sent off midway through the first half for playing the ball above his shoulder and much to his team's total dissatisfaction he found the infringement amusing and sported a wry grin as he trudged off the field.

Sidmouth took the lead in the first half through Jon Pike who was able to connect with an Andrew Welch cross.

Pike doubled his tally in the second half with another scrappy tap in but, at this point, the visitors looked in control and on their way to victory. However, as was the case the previous week, the opposition managed to find their way back into the game.

At 2-1 the game was finely poised and Sidmouth were a little jittery, conceding a short corner which was turned over because the Uni attack took too long to make their set play. An unfortunate mix-up then took place with Rowson looking to clear his lines, inadvertently hitting Peter Baker on the foot, for a short corner to be awarded to the students, which they converted. Minutes before time they added a third to take all three points.

This week, Sidmouth take on East Devon at home - 1.30pm start.